Sideswipe: April 23: Unfriendly gnome

The warm feeling about human gayness generated by the MP for Pakuranga has not yet permeated to Glen Innes. Photo / Supplied

Customer is not always right

The customer is trying to use the touch screen credit card machine, but the attached pen is not working.

Me: "Sorry, sir, the pen is not working right now. It's a touch screen, so just use the pad of your finger."

Customer: "What? What the heck is a 'patio finger'?"

Me: "Pad. Of. Your. Finger."

Customer: "Oh! I thought it was some kind of young people slang." (Source: notalwaysright.com)

Cynical manufacturing

A clothing manufacturer in Colombia has begun exporting bullet-proof clothing for children - primarily for a US market. Production began just three weeks after the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. In his factory in Bogota, Miguel Caballero, who specialises in the manufacture of protection equipment for high-risk situations, now makes bullet-proof vests and backpacks in children's sizes and colours, which he has tested with machineguns and handguns to show they can withstand a barrage of bullets.

Caballero claims they got emails from parents in the US asking for this type of product. (Source: The Daily Telegraph)

Play Auckland Monopoly

Auckland is to get its very own game of Monopoly, so Twitter users come up with some tongue-in-cheek cards:

1. You went to Auckland Grammar. Collect a hearty slap on the back and a high paying job.

2. You have been assessed for leaky building repairs on all your properties. Miss a turn.

3. You are served a full-fat latte instead of a trim flat white. Go directly to jail for barista battery.